Turnovers on each of the first three possessions set stage for 49ers to finish with 4-12 record

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San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle is tackled by Los Angeles Rams cornerback Troy Hill during the second half in an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 30: Mark Barron #26 of the Los Angeles Rams sacks Nick Mullens #4 of the San Francisco 49ers in the fourth quarter at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 30, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle celebrates after scoring during the second half in an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 30: Mark Barron #26 of the Los Angeles Rams sacks Nick Mullens #4 of the San Francisco 49ers in the fourth quarter at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 30, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 30: Ramik Wilson #52 shakes hands with Todd Gurley of the Los Angeles Rams before playing the San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 30, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. Gurley is out with a knee injury. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)

Los Angeles Rams inside linebacker Mark Barron, rear, breaks up a pass intended for San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle during the first half in an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 30: Los Angeles Rams before playing the San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 30, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 30: George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers signs autographs before playing the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 30, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)

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LOS ANGELES — One of the 49ers’ most miserable seasons reached its merciful end Sunday with a 48-32 loss to the playoff-bound Los Angeles Rams.

The glorious upside: they clinched the No. 2 overall draft pick, by virtue of their 4-12 record and strength-of-schedule tiebreaker.

True glory, however, was achieved by George Kittle, who set a NFL record for most receiving yards in a season by a tight end, doing so in style when his 43-yard touchdown catch with 2:20 remaining pushed his total to 1,377 yards.

“We told him that as soon as he gets (the record), we’re done. So it was pretty cool that he turned it into a touchdown,” coach Kyle Shanahan said. “But that’s what he’s been doing all year. He’s done a hell of a job.”

Four turnovers in their first five drives promptly assured the 49ers they’d lose at least 12 games for only the fifth time since 1980. The Rams (13-3) get next weekend off as the NFC’s No. 2 seed.

Winless in all eight road games for the first time since Bill Walsh’s 1979 debut season, the 49ers’ last victorious road trip was here against the Rams last New Year’s Eve, when Jimmy Garoppolo capped his 5-0 finish.

And when Garoppolo went down in Week 3 with a knee injury, the 49ers’ season virtually went kaput, too. All of which led to minimal mysteries for their closing game, which we can now answer:

WOULD KITTLE SET THE RECORD?

Yes, a couple records, actually. His touchdown pushed him past the record that Kansas City’s Travis Kelce set earlier Sunday at 1,336 yards, and Kittle was made aware of that before the final drive and last chance at history.

“I said, ‘Well, I’ll let him have it for a little bit and I’m going to take it,’ ” Kittle said.

Kittle caught 9-of-14 targets for 149 yards, and he needed 9 yards to break Kelce’s record when the 49ers defense stopped the Rams with 2:37 remaining. A 6-yard catch was followed by Kittle’s record-setter on the next snap.

LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 30: San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle #85 looks on as Los Angeles Rams cornerback Blake Countess #24 intercepts a pass during the first half of a game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 30, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

“They were double covering me on the last drive,” Kittle said. “I’m just glad Nick said, ‘I’m going to throw the ball no matter what.’ “

Kittle, in only his second season, relied on a relentless, yards-after-the-catch passion to climb a list of distinguished tight ends who previously set the record — Kelce, Rob Gronkowski and Kellen Winslow.

“That means everything to me,” Kittle said. “Those are guys I’ve looked up to and watched film countless hours trying to take little tidbits from their game.”

Three weeks ago, Kittle finished 5 yards shy of a single-game record for receiving yards by a tight end, racking up all 210 of his yards in the first half of a win over Denver. “He’s let me know about it, so has his mom and dad. So we tried to make it up to him,” Shanahan said.

Said right tackle Mike McGlinchey: “We haven’t had a lot of wins and I know it’s an individual award, but seeing a close friend and team leader get that record is pretty special for us.” Kittle also set 49ers tight end records for most receptions (88) and most 100-yard games (four).

Los Angeles Rams inside linebacker Mark Barron, rear, breaks up a pass intended for San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle during the first half in an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

HOW WOULD NICK MULLENS EXIT?

Mullens responded to the Rams’ fierce pass rush with three interceptions in the first 18 minutes, including a pick-six that put the 49ers in a 21-3 hole. Mullens rallied with three touchdown passes, and he finished 23-of-33 for 282 yards with three sacks, only one by NFL sack leader Aaron Donald (20 1/2).

Going 3-5 as the starter, Mullens threw for 2,277 yards, the fourth-most in the NFL since 1970 through eight starts. He completed 64.2 percent of his passes with 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Shanahan praised Mullens’ moxie: “He’s competitive and never stops letting it rip.” Mullens will battle C.J. Beathard this offseason to secure the No. 2 role behind a healthy Garoppolo.

WHAT INJURIES MIGHT IMPACT 2019?

Left guard Laken Tomlinson may have torn the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, requiring him to get cared off 3:56 before halftime. He had played every snap since entering the lineup in Week 2 last season.

“He’s been a very good player and we’re hoping for good news on it,” Shanahan said of a pending MRI. “If not, he’ll do his rehab and be ready at some time next year. He’s a huge part of what we do.”

Interestingly, defensive tackle Arik Armstead played with a cast on his right hand, something he couldn’t do last year en route to injured reserve. He started every game this year and is due a $9 million salary next season if the 49ers retain him.

The 49ers snapped a five-game drought without a rushing touchdown when Alfred Morris scored on a 1-yard plunge in the third quarter. It was only their seventh rushing touchdown all season.

The 49ers running back depth has been tested ever since Jerick McKinnon went down with a knee injury a week before the season opener. With Matt Breida shelved to injured reserve Saturday, Jeff Wilson Jr. got the start, but came out on the second series. Morris, inactive four of the previous five games, showed off his fresh legs with a 51-yard run in the first quarter.

HOW BAD FINAL TURNOVER RATIO?

The 49ers finished with a minus-25 turnover ratio, and only nine teams in NFL history have done worst. Fullback Kyle Juszczyk fumbled on third-and-1 on their opening series, and then came Mullens’ three interceptions on the next four possessions.

Unable to force a turnover, the 49ers finished with just seven takeaways all season, a NFL record, as were their two interceptions (none by a cornerback). Of this season’s 32 giveaways, opponents converted them into 105 points.

Kicker Robbie Gould’s 30-yard field goal in the first quarter cut the Rams lead to 14-3. Arguably the 49ers most valuable pending free agent, Gould made his last 23 field-goal attempts and was 33-of-34 this season, after converting 39-of-41 last season.

WHO CAN PLAY CATCH?

With Marquise Goodwin (calf) out and Dante Pettis on injured reserve with Pierre Garçon, the 49ers brought up Steven Dunbar Jr. and Max McCaffrey from the practice squad. Kendrick Bourne and Richie James Jr. were in the starting lineup and Trent Taylor chipped in with a few positive plays. Kittle’s touchdown tied him with Pettis for the team lead (five). Bourne and James caught Mullens’ other touchdowns Sunday.